Lifestyle

Budget-friendly fun: Embrace winter at Mayslake event

Posted February 03, 2015 11:00 am

By Laura Milbrath Stewart

Horse-drawn hayrides are part of the Wonders of Winter celebration.

Free

Wonders of Winter

Embrace the snow at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County's Wonders of Winter event at the Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook. Events include horse-drawn hayrides, ice fishing and snowshoeing. Guests can also meet live birds of prey from the Willowbrook Wildlife Center, make s'mores, play games, make crafts and more. Free. Call (630) 933-7248. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7

FREEze Day

Guests receive free admission and a chance to join in many winter-themed activities at Brookfield Zoo's annual FREEze Day. Events include dog-sledding demonstrations by the Green Valley Dog Drivers on the zoo's West Mall, crafts in the Hamill Family Play Zoo, birds of prey Zoo Chats with staff members and more. Admission is free (parking is $10 per car). For information, visit czs.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8

Snow Days Chicago

Watch 14 professional sculptors create works of art from 10-foot blocks of man-made snow during the Snow Days Chicago event at Polk Brothers Park at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Sculptures can be viewed both day and night, with special nighttime lighting. Other highlights include snowboarding for kids, snow painting and more. Free. Hours of events vary. navypier.com. Runs Saturday, Feb. 7, and Sunday, Feb. 8

Home sweet home

Get some tips from Kelly Edwards of HGTV's “Design on a Dime” and other experts at the North Shore Home and Garden Show this weekend at the Westin Chicago North Hotel, 601 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling. No admission charge. (847) 777-6500 or homeshownorthshore.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 7 and 8

$15 and under

Ski by candlelight

Visitors can experience skiing by candlelight at the Sportsman's Country Club along the golf course. Children and adults can cross-country ski, as the glow of candles illuminates a trail. The Sportsman's Country Club is at 3535 Dundee Road, Northbrook. Admission is $5 per person, plus equipment rental (if needed). Call (847) 291-2351, Ext. 3. Runs 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6

Bees, Bugs and Butterflies

Conservationist and nature photographer Joan Sayre presents the Bees, Bugs and Butterflies program at Barrington Village Hall, 200 S. Hough St., Barrington. Sayre will discuss insects and their habitats and will share and discuss her photographs. Sayre is a member of the Riverwoods Nature Photography Society. The program is presented by the Citizens For Conservation group. $10 for members; CFC members are free. To RSVP, call (847) 382-7283, or send email to cfc@citizensforconservation.org. 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7. Coffee at 9:30 a.m. before the program

Winter Pow Wow

The American Indian Center of Chicago hosts its Winter Traditional Pow Wow at Benedictine University's Krasa Student Center, 5700 College Road, Lisle. There will be intertribal singing and dancing, an art marketplace, native food and cultural presentations. Admission is $5 per person. Free for children ages 5 and younger. (773) 275-5871 or aic-chicago.org. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7. Grand entry at 1 and 6 p.m.

'Downton' drama

Actress/historian Leslie Goddard portrays servant Margaret Powell, whose memoir “Below Stairs” helped inspire the popular PBS TV series, “Downton Abbey,” in a program at the Grayslake Heritage Center and Museum, 164 Hawley St., Grayslake. Learn about the lives of English servants in the early 20th century. Following the program, guests can explore the museum's World War I exhibitions. Suggested donation is $3 adults; $1 children. (847) 543-1745 or villageofgrayslake.com. 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7

Oscar-winning drama

See the 2013 film “12 Years A Slave,” winner of the Best Picture Oscar, at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. This R-rated film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o in the story of a free black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. Admission is $1; paramountaurora.com. 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9

Prairie Brass Band

The Prairie Brass Band celebrates Valentine's Day early with its Valentine Concert at Christian Liberty Academy, 502 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. Selections include “Love and Marriage,” the march from “The Love of Three Oranges,” “The Girl I Left Behind Me” and others. $10. prairiebrass.org. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12

Conservationist and nature photographer Joan Sayre presents a Bees, Bugs and Butterflies program. Courtesy of Joan Sayre

Watch as professional sculptors create artwork from 10-foot blocks of snow at the Snow Days Chicago fest. Photo courtesy of Fran Volz

Benedict Cumberbatch, left, and Chiwetel Ejofor star in "12 Years A Slave."

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